Comparative study of oral versus topical ketoconazole therapy in pityriasis versicolor

28 adult patients of pityriasis versicolor were treated with either oral ketoconazole (13 patients) or topical ketoconazole (15 patients). Though mycological response was equal in both the regimes, good clinical response was seen in 69.23% of patients on oral ketoconazole while 73.33% of patients on topical ketoconazole, with least side effects seen with topical ketoconazole. Therefore topical ketoconazole appears to be better than oral ketoconazole in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.